The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 131: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

108 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘‘ Ah! ” ejaculated the duke, as if the presence of his elder nephew suddenly reminded him of things which, in the previous whirl of his conflicting, distracting thoughts, he had utterly lost sight of. ‘‘ Come hither,” and the duke abruptly passed into the drawing-room, followed by Lord Clandon. Their interview did not last above ten minutes, but what its nature was, we have at present no means of describing. Suffice it to say that at the expiration of this brief interview, the door opened as abruptly as when the duke entered that room, and his Grace came forth. Descending to the hall, he said, in a quick, excited manner to the lackeys, whom he found there, ‘’ Let all the male domestics disperse them- selves over the neighbourhood, in search of the duchess. Ii her Grace be found, tell her that I — her husband — have wronged her.” Ejaculations of joy burst forth from the lips of all who had heard this announcement of Eliza’s innocence, for her natural goodness and her affably condescending manners had endeared her to the entire household of which she was so late the mistress. ‘Yes,’ continued the duke, his voice swelling with the excitement of his feelings, ‘‘ let her Grace be told that I have wronged her, that I beseech her to return, and that she will be received with open arms. Disperse yourselves all about, enter every house, cottage, or hut, where it 1s possible that your mistress may have taken refuge. Depart, I say, and a hundred guineas for him who finds her ladyship. I also shall go forth in the hope of discovering my wrongly banished wife.”’ Having thus spoken, the Duke of Marchmont put on his hat and rushed forth from the mansion. As he descended the steps, his favourite dog — a great bull-mastiff, which has been before alluded to — came leaping up in joy at beholding its master. ‘Come, Pluto,’ exclaimed the duke. ‘‘ You seem to understand, faithful dog, that I am bent on something of importance.” Meanwhile the word had been passed rapidly through the mansion that, by some means or another, the duke had become convinced of the innocence of the duchess, that her Grace was to be sought out, and that a hundred guineas would be the reward of him who might discover her retreat. EONMICLNOO KS (E(0)